Capture browser trace information

When reporting an issue with the web-based Google Cloud console, providing browser trace information helps us understand and investigate your issue. This guide describes how to capture and save relevant artifacts so you can share them in your support case.

For additional guidance about helpful information to include in your report, see Reporting a Google Cloud console issue.

Capture a HAR file

HAR (HTTP Archive) is a file format used to record HTTP session data, which helps with troubleshooting HTTP issues.

Warning: HAR files can contain sensitive data such as browser cookies and information that you submit in forms. If needed, you can edit a HAR file in a text editor or use a HAR sanitizer tool to redact any sensitive information.

To capture and save a HAR file using your browser, follow these steps:

Chrome

Use the Chrome DevTools Network panel:

1. In the Google Cloud console, navigate to the page where you are encountering the issue.

2. Open Chrome DevTools: right-click anywhere on the page and choose Inspect.

3. In the DevTools panel, select the Network tab. The tool automatically begins recording network activity.

4. Select Preserve log.

5. Click Clear network log.

6. Reproduce the issue by interacting with the Google Cloud console.

7. When you're done reproducing the issue, click download Export HAR (sanitized) and save the generated HAR file.

Edge

Use the Microsoft Edge DevTools Network tool:

1. In the Google Cloud console, navigate to the page where you are encountering the issue.

2. Open Microsoft Edge DevTools: right-click anywhere on the page and choose Inspect.

3. In the DevTools panel, select the Network tab. The tool automatically begins recording network activity.

4. Select Preserve log.

5. Click Clear network log.

6. Reproduce the issue by interacting with the Google Cloud console.

7. When you're done reproducing the issue, click vertical_align_bottom Export HAR and save the generated HAR file.

Firefox

Use the Firefox DevTools Network Monitor:

1. In the Google Cloud console, navigate to the page where you are encountering the issue.

2. Open Firefox DevTools: right-click anywhere on the page and choose Inspect.

3. In the DevTools panel, select the Network tab. The tool automatically begins recording network activity.

4. Click Settings and then select Persist Logs.

5. Click delete Clear.

6. Reproduce the issue by interacting with the Google Cloud console.

7. When you're done reproducing the issue, click Settings > Save All As HAR and save the generated HAR file.

Safari

Use the Safari Web Inspector Network Tab:

1. Enable Safari developer tools.

2. In the Google Cloud console, navigate to the page where you are encountering the issue.

3. Open Safari Web Inspector: in the Safari menu bar, click Develop > Show Web Inspector.

4. In the Web Inspector, select the Network tab. The tool automatically begins recording network activity.

5. Select Preserve Log and reload the web page.

6. Click delete_forever Clear Network Items.

7. Reproduce the issue by interacting with the Google Cloud console.

8. When you're done reproducing the issue, click Export and save the generated HAR file.

You can then upload your saved HAR file as an attachment in your support case.

Capture a performance profile

If you are experiencing performance issues, such as slow page interactions or rendering, you can record a browser performance profile. To capture and save a performance profile using your browser, follow these steps:

Chrome

Use the Chrome DevTools Performance panel:

1. In the Google Cloud console, navigate to the page where you are encountering the issue.

2. Open Chrome DevTools: right-click anywhere on the page and choose Inspect.

3. In the DevTools panel, select the Performance tab.

4. Click refresh Record and reload, and reproduce the issue by interacting with the Google Cloud console.

   The profiler records for up to 10 seconds or until its buffer is full. If you need to record a longer profile to capture the issue, you can manually control recording by clicking radio_button_checked Record and stop_circle Stop.

5. When you're done recording the profile, click download Save profile > Save trace and save the generated file.

Edge

Use the Microsoft Edge DevTools Performance tool:

1. In the Google Cloud console, navigate to the page where you are encountering the issue.

2. Open Microsoft Edge DevTools: right-click anywhere on the page and choose Inspect.

3. In the DevTools panel, select the Performance tab.

4. Click refresh Start profiling and reload page, and reproduce the issue by interacting with the Google Cloud console.

   The profiler records for up to 10 seconds or until its buffer is full. If you need to record a longer profile to capture the issue, you can manually control recording by clicking radio_button_checked Record and stop_circle Stop.

5. When you're done recording the profile, click vertical_align_bottom Save profile and save the generated file.

Firefox

Use the Firefox Profiler:

1. Enable the Firefox Profiler popup. This adds a profiler icon to the Firefox toolbar.

2. In the Google Cloud console, navigate to the page where you are encountering the issue.

3. Open the Firefox Profiler menu: in the Firefox toolbar, click the arrow next to the profiler icon.

4. In the profiler menu, in the Settings field, select Web Developer.

5. Click Start Recording, reload the web page, and reproduce the issue by interacting with the Google Cloud console.

   To stop recording, click the profiler icon in the Firefox toolbar. This opens a new tab containing the recorded data in the Firefox Profiler web app.

6. Click Upload Local Profile, click Download, and save the generated file.

Safari

Use the Safari Web Inspector Timelines Tab:

1. Enable Safari developer tools.

2. In the Google Cloud console, navigate to the page where you are encountering the issue.

3. Open Safari Web Inspector: in the Safari menu bar, click Develop > Show Web Inspector.

4. In the Web Inspector, select the Timelines tab.

5. Select Stop recording once page loads.

6. Reload the web page and reproduce the issue by interacting with the Google Cloud console.

   The profiler records for up to 10 seconds or until its buffer is full. If you need to record a longer profile to capture the issue, you can manually control recording by clicking Start recording and Stop recording.

7. When you're done recording the profile, click Export and save the generated file.

You can then upload your saved performance profile as an attachment in your support case.